Level or layer wire winding machines



Sept. 18, 1962 R. E. WHITE LEvEL OR LAYER WIRE WINDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1958 QM mm lNVENTOR euro/e0 5. WHITE ATTQRNEY Sept. 18, 1962 R. E. WHITE LEVEL OR LAYER WIRE WINDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1958 INVENTOR PEXFORD E. WHITE By M g ATTORNFY Sept. 18, 1962 R. E. WHITE LEVEL 0R LAYER WIRE WINDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1958 INVENTOR REXFORO E. WHITE ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1962 R. E. WHITE LEVEL 08 LAYER WIRE WINDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 28, 1958 INVENTOR REXFORD 5. WHITE M 5 fi 1.4

A TTOPNE Y Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,568

R.E.VVHfTE LEVEL OR LAYER WIRE WINDING MACHINES Filed July 28, l958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 iiznaxmnlmll mqgrm FIG. 7

INVENTOR REXFORO 5. WHITE United States Patent Ofifice Patented Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,568 LEVEL R LAYER WIRE ING MACHINES Rexford E. White, Emporium, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kentucky Electronics Inc., Owensboro, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed July 28, 1958, Ser. No. 751,365 11 Claims. (Cl. 24225) This invention relates to wire winding machines and more particularly to level or layer winding machines.

In many commercial fields the specifications on wire sizes and tolerances, metallurgical requirements and physical appearance are very critical. Furthermore, in order to insure that such special wire reaches the customer or user in unmarked or distorted condition, it has been the practice to wind such wire on spools by hand. Thls operation materially increases the cost since the manual technique requires considerable time and highly skilled personnel.

A particular field employing such Wire is the electronics industry where the use of wire is quite extensive and highly critical. A special segment of this industry is the high precision division relating to the winding of grids for radio and television vacuum tubes and related high frequency tubes. Some of these tubes employ grids which are precision wound with wire considerably less in diameter than a human hair. Naturally, such fine wire is relatively fragile and easily damaged or distorted by haphazard winding on supply spools or bobbins. Furthermore, the handling of such spools in storage and shipment subjects the wire to abuse which might develop kinks and twists in the wire, so that a considerable loss is entailed when it is desired to use the wire in the winding processes in the manufacture of grids for various types of tubes.

A main object of this invention is to facilitate the winding of fine wire by machine methods in layer fashion.

Another object of the invention is to automatically control the winding of fine wire on various sizes of spools so that uniform level winding is accomplished in a minimum time period.

A further object of the invention is to regulate the winding so that uniform full layers are wound without congestion or spacing between adjacent turns or layers on the spool.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of slight kinks and bends in the wire during the winding operation.

A still further object of the invention is to control the speed of the winding regardless of the size of the wire and the dimensions of the spool or bobbin on which the layer winding is performed.

These objects and many other advantages of the invention are attained in an automatic winding machine, which in one aspect, may include a plurality of winding positions so that multiple winding operations may be performed simultaneously. The machine includes a number of supply reels or spools and a similar number of take-up reels, for transferring the wire to be wound in layer or level fashion. A power drive, which may be adjustable, regulates the speed of Winding, depending on the size of wire and the dimensions of the take-up spool. Between these spools is located a sliding transverse mechanism or transport member having suitable guiding and tension means, to control the feed of the wire in its travel to the take-up reel.

A feature of the transport member of this invention is the automatic reciprocal travel thereof, to coincide with the distance between the take-up spool ends, number of layers and the size of wire being layer wound on the spool. This is accomplished by an eccentric cam controlled by the main driving power, to regulate the speed and the reciprocal limits of travel of the transport, in order to control the precision winding of the wire in equal layers and uniform level disposition on the take-up spool.

Another feature of this invention is the regulation of the orientation of the cam in the transfer of power to the transport, depending on the diameter of the wire and the diameter and size of the spool on which the wire is wound. This is accomplished by an adjustable means whereby the cam is positioned in accurate relation, so that the transport is actuated in cooperative relation, to fill the layer or layers on the take-up spool completely and no crowding or slippage occurs at the extremities of the layers on the spool.

A further feature of the transport mechanism of this invention is the method of reciprocal travel thereof, so that uniform feed and tension are always applied to the wire during transfer between the supply and take-up reels. This is achieved by a pair of bearing blocks in which multiple shafting travels in sliding relation transverse to the travel of the Wire between the reels. The shafting members are surrounded by compression springs which are normally inactive. When the cam mechanism drives the transport in one direction compression builds up in the springs and when the limit of travel is reached the springs return the transport to its initial position by the loading effect imposed on the springs in the forward motion of the transport mechanism.

These and many other features and advantages of this invention will be clearly understood when the following detailed description is considered and compared with the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the wire winding machine of this invention, showing the relation of the supply and take-up reels and the intermediate transport mechanism for controlling the winding of the layers on the take-up reels.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, showing the relation of the power drive and the various mechanisms associated therewith, together with the method of feeding the wire from the supply reel to the take-up reel head at the rear of the machine.

FIG. 3 is another elevation view of the machine, taken from the rear, and showing the drive controls, take-up heads and cam drive mechanism which actuates the transport means.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the transport mechanism showing the wire feed and the reciprocal travel features of the transport, in accordance with the concepts of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the cam drive with portions broken away to show the detailed construction.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view, partly in cross-section, of the take-up reel head on the rear of the machine, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the rigid support bar of the transport mechanism, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. Sis an exaggerated view of the take-up reel showing, in cross-section, several layers of the wire as wound in level uniform relation, in accordance with the features of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a side View, in elevation, of a modified form of guide arm for the winding transport mechanism, which is provided with wire stretching and tensioning features, to insure the definite guidance of the wire during the winding operations, and, I

FIG. 10 is an end view, partly in section, to show the adjustable features of the wire guiding arm, as shown in FIG. 9, whereby the wire is guided in proper alignment with the supply and take-up reels at each winding position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a unitary combination or assembly of various cooperating components mounted on a base, bench or table A, which form a convenient support or platform, to faciitate the control of the operations by an attendant who may supervise and regulate the various control mechanisms at the beginning and during the winding operations. The base A is mounted on four metal corner legs or posts which also support a lower sub-base or shelf B. The lower shelf forms a rigid mounting surface for a variable speed motor and gear drive C, preferably of a type manufactured by Reeves Corporation, of Columbus, Ohio, which forms the main power source for the operation of the machine. A quickchange gear box D, is suspended from the lower rear edge of the main base A. This drive control is preferably of a type manufactured by South Bend Lathe Co., and generally employed on model A lathes. This unit is wellknown as to its functional operation so it will not be further described. Also mounted at the rear of the base is a back drive shaft assembly E, which extends laterally from the center adjacent the gear box D to the end of the base A at one end. This shaft is supported at the central position by an upright gear housing or head F, and an end support or journal housing G. A similar housing or head F may be rigidly mounted on the base intermediate the gear housing F and the journal G. In front of the gear housings F and F is one of the main components of the invention, as represented by a winding control transversely slidable transport mechanism H, shown more clearly in FIG. 4, which slides reciprocally in uniform relation in advance of the rear gear housings which are located behind the transport mechanism. The travel of the transport H is controlled precisely by a universally adjustable cam drive J, which actuates an adjustable rocker arm and roller assembly K, the cam drive being coupled to a reduction gear housing L; which is driven by a train of gears M, from a counter-shaft N, at the front of the base A.

In order to convey power to all the controls simultaneously from the main drive motor or source C, the motor shaft is provided with dual sprockets 21 and 22. In alignment with sprocket 21 is a cooperating sprocket 23, rigidly aflixed to the inner end of a back shaft 24, as shown in FIG. 6, and these sprockets are engaged by a taut link chain drive 25, so that the back drive shaft assembly B may be continuously driven at a definite controlled rate without slippage or lag, to accomplish the winding operations to be hereinafter described. In addition to sprocket 22 on the main drive motor, a similar sprocket 26, is mounted on the input side of shaft 27, of the quick-change gear box D, and is coupled to the drive motor C by a link chain 28, similar to chain 25. The output shaft 29, extending from the opposite side of the gear box D, carries a sprocket 30, adjacent the box and post 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the counter-shaft N extends horizontally below the front flange of the base A and is journalled in bearings 32 and 33. Adjacent journal 32 is a wide spur gear 34, which transmits power to the main control mechanism for the winding operations, which will be described later in the specification. Near the opposite end of the shaft N adjacent to the bearing 33, is a sprocket 35, which incidently is aligned with sprocket 30, on gear box D, and these sprockets are coupled directly together to the input shaft 27, on the gear box D. The output of the gear box is controlled by the adjustable arms 40, so that the ratio of driving power may be accurately regulated, depending on the variables encountered in the schedule of winding the wire during the operation of the machine. This speed may be from approximately 10 to l at the high side or input shaft 27, to a low of about 1 to 2% ratio at the output shaft 29. It is, therefore, seen that the speed of the counter-shaft N may be accurately controlled in cooperative relation to the Winding head speed of rotation, to accomplish the desired ratio of power to the winding control mechanism for producing the level winding of fine wire during the winding operations of the machine.

Before proceeding with the description of the winding mechanisms and their controls, the details of the winding heads F and F should be explained. FIG. 3, shows the elevational view of the construction of the assembly and the components involved and FIG. 6 shows the cross-section view of the specific details of the transmitting power between the shaft E and the take-up spool or reel 41, mounted on the upper end of the head. As indicated in FIG. 3, the back drive shaft 24 extends through the housing or head F, and is surrounded by a sleeve shaft 42, which carries a clutch sleeve 43. Associated with the clutch sleeve is a clutch ring or plate 44, and collar 45, which are shiftable by operation of a hand lever 46, to engage the gear head F to the drive shaft 24 and thereby impart rotary motion to the t-akeup reel 41 when it is desired to level wind the wire on the reel 41. A similar clutch assembly, formed of sleeve 43, plate 44', collar 45 and lever 46', transmits power to winding head F from the drive shaft 24 when a winding operation is to be performed at the other position on the machine.

The winding head F, as shown in FIG. 6, is mounted on a spanning plate 47, which extends across the short dimension of the base or bench A. The head F includes a bearing section 48, having a lower ball bearing 49, for the shaft 24 and a spindle bearing housing 50, having a pair of spaced ball bearings 51, and 52, to accommodate the spindle shaft 53. The shaft is provided with a large spur gear 54, and a locking disc 55, with a locating pin 56, which projects outwardly parallel to the reel shaft 57, to support reel 41 and the reel is rigidly affixed to the shaft by a thumb nut 58, on the outer threaded end of the shaft 57.

Also carried 'by drive shaft 24, adjacent the lower hearing 49, is spur gear 59, provided with a short sleeve 60, which coupled to the following sleeve shaft 42 surrounding shaft 24. A central idler spur gear 61, supported by the bearing housing through a stub shaft 62, couples the drive gear 59 to the driven gear 54. The gears are enclosed by a cap or box 63, which is bolted to the bearing housing 48. The winding head F is similarly constructed, wherein the bearing housing or section 48 and the cap or box 63' correspond, respectively, to the section 48 and the box 63. The head F is also mounted on a the opposite end of the shaft 29 is supported in a journal Spanning Plate extending across the base The end journal G, which supports the opposite end of the drive shaft 24 is a half head composed of a bearing section 64, to serve as a terminal or journal housing for the shaft. If desired, the winding heads may be further increased merely by extending the drive shaft 24 and duplicating the winding heads the same as heads F and F.

At each position of a take-up reel and winding head is a supply reel or spool from which the wire to be level wound is conveyed to the take-up reel. These supply reels are located at the front of the base A and preferably projecting from the front flange 65, of the base. The mounting of the supply reel involves a pair of journal posts 66, and 67, projecting laterally from the front of the flange 65 to support a shaft 68. A drum 69, is mounted on one end of shaft 68 adjacent post 67, and an extension 70, of

the shaft on the opposite side of post 66 provides a support for a supply reel or spool 71, which is fixed to the shaft by locking nut 72. A brake band or flexible strap 73, which may be made of leather or similar material, surrounds the drum 69 and is anchored at 74, to the base flange 65, while the other end 75, is clamped to a rod 76, FIG. 2, which extends through the base A to the rear, where it is terminated in a thumb nut 77, to apply the desired tension to the supply reel 71 and thereby hold the Wire under specific stress so that the wire is held taut, to any desired tension, during the winding operation.

A similar supply reel set-up is provided at the other winding position including winding head F and take-up reel 41'. In this position, the posts 66', and 67', are mounted to the left of the Winding location, and the shaft 68' is provided with drum 69', extending from the shaft adjacent the further end of the base A. In this relation, the supply reel 71' is mounted on the shaft extension 70, by locating nut 72', approximately in line with the takeup reel 41', on winding head F. A brake band 75', similar to the assembly on shaft 68, is provided for controlling the tension on the wire at this position.

The production of fine precision wire, especially the wire customarily employed in vacuum tubes, for example, in the manufacture of wire wound grids or control electrodes, must be protected from nicks and bends or distortion due to twisting. Since such wire is usually of very small diameter, of the order of .010 to .060 inch, it is evident that considerable loss occurs when damage results by ordinary winding methods. Furthermore, the grid wire is usually plated or formed of composite layers, such as silver-plated, nickel-plated, gold-plated, copper layer or other types of outer layer, such as titanium, tantalum or iridium, with a core of other metal, such as nickel, copper or aluminum. In order to protect the soft or ductile outer layer of the plated or composite wire, it is usually the practice to wind the wire on a spool or reel by hand, which requires an experienced operator and results in a slow process. Furthermore, the cost is exceedingly high, being approximately $1.50 a pound for the winding, exclusive of the cost of the wire. When it is considered that a spool generally holds from five to ten pounds of wire, depending on the diameter of the wire, it is evident that hand winding proves to be very costly.

In accordance with this invention, the cost of winding is materially reduced, so that machine winding is approximately lowered to 25 to 50 cents a pound, and the speed and uniformity of winding is greatly increased, so that more efficient production is attained and the quality of the wire is materially enhanced. While the range of precision wire, noted above, is primarily of interest, due to the delicate service required of such fine wire, it is to be understood, that the automatic level winding process of this invention is not to be limited to this range, since larger or smaller diameter wire may also be wound by this process with equal success and efficiency. In the case of larger diameter wire, it would merely involve larger and heavier components to handle the greater mass of material.

The transport mechanism H, intermediate the supply reels and take-up reels on the base A, is a prime requisite in the cooperating components of the winding assembly of this invention and will now be described in detail. 6

This assembly is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4. The essential attribute of the operation of the transport or carrier is that its movement should be smooth, uniform and completely regulated, so that there is no binding or lagging motion in the reciprocal travel of the mechanism in its feeding and guiding of the wire between the supply and take-up reels on the machine. The transport mechanism H will be described as a unit in relation to the two winding positions afforded by the heads F and F. Associated with the spanning plates 47 and 47' on the base A, are pairs of spaced socket posts 78, 79, 80 and 81, mounted rigidly on saddles 82 and 83, respectively. These posts support adjustable vertical rods 84, 85, 86 and 87. The rods 84 and 85 support bearing block 88, while rods 86 and 87 support a companion bearing block 89, and

these blocks may be raised or lowered by adjustment of the rods which support them. These blocks, as shown in FIG. 7, are provided with ball bushing bearings 90, in parallel relation, to provide anti-friction supports for transverse rods or bars 91 and 92, of case-hardened steel, of 4 inch diameter, for example, and slide in exact diameter inner race bores of the bearings 90, so that there is no side or lateral thrust with respect to the fit of the rods in the bearings. This exact fit is provided so that no play or loose fit is allowed and slight displacement is prevented by wear or friction in the travel of the transverse rods 91 and 92 in the reciprocal movement of the rods which form the main transport elements in the smooth guiding operation of the wire during the winding functions of the machine. A yoke or head block 93, is rigidly secured to the transverse rods 91 and 92 by split end bores 94, at the ends of the rods adjacent the bearing block 88, and the block 93 carries a centrally located downwardly extending rigid arm or bearing plate 95, having a nose or fore block 96, attached to the face thereof intermediate the ends. In addition to the end yoke block 93, two wider yoke blocks 97, and 98, are rigidly secured to the transverse rods 91 and 92, slightly to the left of the winding positions, as provided by the take-up reels 41 and 41 on the heads F and F, as shown in FIG. 1. Attached to the blocks 97 and 98, are pairs of long arms 99, which extend transversely across the transverse rods 91 and 92, and also extend considerably forward of the transport mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4. These arms carry a large sheave or pulley 100, at the forward end, or adjacent the front of the base A, and a split felt wheel or pulley 101, at the opposite end of the arm. In this relation, the wire 102, from the supply reels 71 or 71 is threaded over the pulley 100, then over the split wheel 101, to the take-up reel 41 or 41'.

The wire carriage or winding guide arm component may, as above described, be changed to an adjustable assembly, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in which the yoke blocks are replaced by a block or plate 103, which is provided with spaced threaded bores, to accommodate a threaded stud 104. A pair of thumb nuts 105 and 106, on opposite sides of the plate 103, engage the stud 104, and its position is maintained definite or may be regulated to any lateral position by means of the manipulation of the stud and nuts. The adjusted position is main tained by lock nuts 107 and 108. A long flat arm 109, is secured to the ends of the parallel studs 104 adjacent the lock nuts 106 and 108, and carries a series of staggered small pulleys 110, 111 and 112, on the upper edge. and the wire 102 is threaded over pulley 110, under pulley 111 and over pulley 112, as shown in FIG. 9, to remove kinks in the wire as it is maintained under constant tension in its travel from the supply reel to the take-up reel. As shown in FIG. 1, the yoke block 93 is mounted at one end of the transverse rods 91 and 92, the yoke block 98 is mounted on the opposite ends of the rods and the block 97 is approximately at the medial position on the rods 91 and 92. This assembly provides a positive transport or carrier for guiding the wire in uniform layer fashion to be wound on the take-up reels. Due to the precision support of the transport rods 91 and 92, the Wire guiding arms 99 are reciprocally moved in uniform relation in front of the take-up reels 41 and 41.

This is accomplished, in accordance with this invention, in one direction by the thrust imparted to the nose block 96 by the adjustable rocker arm and roller assembly K of the universal cam drive I. In the travel of the transport mechanism in the forward direction or in a lefthand direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, a pair of heavy 14 gauge wire compression springs 113, and 114, surround the transverse rods 91 and 92, respectively, and abut against the yoke block 97 at one end and the bearing block 89 at the other end. As the transport H travels to the left, under the forward thrust imparted by the rocker arm K, the heavy springs 113 and 114 are compressed and when the cam drive I rotates to swing the rocker arm to the right, the loaded or compressed condition of the springs returns the transport or carrier H to its forward position and the cycle is repeated, to produce the limited reciprocal travel of the transport mechanism transversely or laterally between the supply and take-up reels on the winding machine.

The transport mechanism H is controlled in its travel by rocker arm assembly K, under the influence of the universal cam drive I, which is actuated by the reduction gear box L, coupled to gear train M. This gear drive receives its power from spur gear 34 on counter-shaft N, which is driven by the sprocket 35 and link chain 36 coupled to quick-change gear box D, at the output thereof. The spur gear 34 is meshed with large gear 115, which is mounted above the base A on stub shaft 116. The latter gear is in constant contact with driven gear 117, coupled to shaft 118, which projects from the reduction gear housing L, mounted on base plate 119, superimposed on a large platform plate 120. Projecting from the rear of the gear box L, as viewed in FIG. 1, is a short shaft 121, to which is attached the universal cam drive I, which constitutes another main feature of this invention, since the single cam may be employed for all variations of speed in driving the transport mechanism in the winding operations of the machine, whether it is feet a minute or 200 feet a minute, or regardless of the span of the take-up reel, such as 2 /2 to 6 inches between the spool ends. While the cam I is substantially circular in configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, it has a dip'or dwell 122, adjacent its offset axis, as indicated by the location of the shaft 121. The cam drive I bears against a pin 123, projecting toward the rear and extending from a short rocket arm 124, mounted on shaft 125, supported in mounting block 126, which extends upright from the base plate 120'.

The shaft 125 extending through the block 126 carries the adjustable rocker arm assembly K, which is formed of an L-shaped plate or swinging block 127, with an elongated slot 128, extending downwardly along its length, as shown clearly in FIG. 5. The plate 127 is rigidly fixed to shaft 125 at its upper end and the extension of the L- shaped plate is threaded to receive a long adjusting screw 129, which projects downwardly to a sliding plate 130, which rides in the slot 128. A roller 131, extends lateral- 131 from the sliding plate 130 and abuts against the nose block 96 on the transport arm 95, which projects from the forward end of the transport carrier or mechanism H. The adjusting screw 129 readily changes the position of the roller 131 on the rocker arm 127 in relation to the nose block 96 on the transport H, so that the lateral travel thereof may be varied, to regulate the precision winding of the wire, depending on the variables to be controlled, such as size of wire, speed of winding, distance between the take-up reel ends and the number of layers and the number of turns of wire to be wound on the take up reel, such as 41.

In order to accomplish accurate levelor layer winding of small diameter precision wire by machine methods, there are many factors and variables to consider, so that the wire is uniformly wound on the spool or take-up reel. Some of these factors are: the diameter of the wire, the tolerance limits thereof, the size and distance between the ends of the reel, the structural characteristics of the wire to be wound, namely whether it is highly refractory or the ductility is very soft and liable to be damaged in winding. Another factor is the tolerance of the wire, since it is conceivable that a tolerance of .005 inch will be a large variable in the winding of .010 inch wire on a takeup reel involving 150 turns per layer and about ten pounds per reel. Furthermore, the condition of the wire on the supply reel also has a marked effect on the winding procedure, due to the crowding of the wire turns at the ends of the reel and due to kinks, bends or other surface defects which must be taken into consideration in the precision layer winding of the wire on the take-up reel. All of these variables are under constant control in the winding operations of the machine, in accordance with this invention, whereby the level and uniform winding of precision wire is accomplished expeditiously, as shown on a greatly enlarged scale in FIG. 8, in' which the spool'ends 132, which are spaced by a hub, not shown, determine the number 'of turns of wire 133, that may be accommodated in a given space, depending on the diameter of the wire which is to be wound. As shown in FIG.'8, the wire is accurately wound in uniform layer fashion, to produce a level surface at each layer depth and without crowding the wire turns at the ends of each layer where detrimental action would throw the whole winding process out of synchronism and in addition materially damage the wire.

A typical procedure in the level winding operation of the machine, is to mount the supply reel 71 on the foreshaft 68 and lock it in place by tightening hand nut 72, then threading the wire over the guides 100 and 101 on the arm 99 on the transport mechanism H, and finally securing the wire to the hub of the take-up reel 41 on the winding head F. The main drive C is adjusted to a desired speed by the manipulation of the selector wheel 39 whereby a definite ratio of power drive is imparted to the rear drive shaft E and communicated to the heads F and F which carry the take-up reels on which the layer winding of the wire is performed, in accordance with this invention. Of course, the tension on the wire is taken into consideration by the adjustment of the brake 73 in contact with the drum 69 on the shaft of the supply reel of wire, whereby kinks, twists and other distortional inequalities may be alleviated and removed prior to arrival of the wire at the take-up reel.

Now, depending on the wire diameter and the width and diameter of the take-up reel, the speed of the cam drive M is controlled by the quick-change gear box D, which can accommodate a variety of speed changes between the input shaft speed of a high of 10 to 1 ratio to a low speed ratio of l to 2%, whereby the cam drive may be accurately controlled. Finaly, the limits of travel of the transverse carrier or transport mechanism H is minutely controlled by the manipulation of the rocker arm assembly K by the adjustment of the screw 129 to regulate the position of the roller 131 in relation to the nose block on the transport H. This control may be adjusted so fine as to change the travel speed for every tooth on the drive gear 117, so that the end turns 134 at the ends of the layer are accurately wound without crowding or wedging between the last turn and the inner wall of the end disc 132 of the take-up reel.

Of course, such a typical winding procedure will be considerably altered when other sizes of wire are to be wound, but the same final results will be attained, whereby the level wind or layer built uniformity of winding is achieved in the final winding operations of the machine. 7

While a specific range of precision Wire sizes have been indicated in the main disclosure of this invention, it is, of course, understood, that the invention is not limited to such a narrow range, since other sizes of wire or other strand-like materials may be wound in similar fashion. Furthermore, the machine,'as disclosed, should not be construed as limited to only two positions, since other positions may be added without changing the sequential operation of the machine. Similarly, the invention is not to be confined to the particular combination as specifically described, since various modifications may be included in the functional operation of the machine, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a level wire winding machine, a base mounting, wire supply reels and take-up reels disposed in linear relation across said base, a reciprocating transport mechanism intermediate said reels for guiding the wire from said supply reels to said take-up reels, to wind said wire in uniform level layers on said take-up reels, compression spring members on said transport mechanism, a main drive coupled to said take-up reels, an adjustable cam means bearing against said transport mechanism to produce motion in one direction against the action of said spring members and said loaded spring members producing motion in said mechanism in the reverse direction, said adjustable cam means including means for adjusting the motion of said transport mechanism in said one direction, and a reduction gear housing coupled between said main drive and said cam means.

2. In combination, a plurality of take-up heads, a reel on each head, corresponding supply reels in opposed relation to the reels on said take-up heads, a transverse sliding carrier intermediate said supply reels and take-up heads, means on said carrier for guiding wire between said supply and take-up reels, a variable main drive means for said take-up heads, and an adjustable cam drive abutting against said sliding carrier, said adjustable cam drive including means for adjusting the reciprocal actuation of said carrier, to reciprocally actuate said carrier, to control the feed of said wire in uniform level layers on said reels on said take-up heads.

3. A layer wire winding machine, comprising a rectangular base, a plurality of heads projecting in parallel relation above said base, a common shaft coupled to said heads, a plurality of take-up reels carried by said heads, a corresponding group of supply reels disposed in opposition to said take-up reels, a pair of rigid posts between said reels and projecting from said base, parallel bars slidably supported in said posts and reciprocally movable transversely between said supply and take-up reels, arms mounted perpendicularly to said bars and in aligned relation between said supply and take-up reels, means on said arms for guiding wire to be wound from said supply to said take-up reels, cam drive means controlling the movement of said sliding bars to feed said wire in uniform layer fashion on said take-up reels, said cam drive means including an adjustable follower coupled to said follower for controlling the reciprocal movement of said sliding bars, and main drive means coupled to said common shaft and said cam drive.

4. In combination, a wire winding machine comprising a rectangular bench, an auxiliary sub-base below said bench, a plurality of vertical heads projecting above the rear of said bench, a back shaft extending between said heads, clutch means for coupling said heads to said shaft, a take-up reel on each head, a supply reel in line with each take-up reel and mounted at the front of said bench, a mean variable drive on said sub-base, a quick-change gear box extending below said bench at the rear thereof, a reduction gear box on said bench at one end, a front coupling shaft extending between said quick-change box and said reduction gear box, a chain drive between said main drive and said back shaft and said quick-change box, another chain drive between said quick-change box and said front coupling shaft, a reciprocally movable transverse transport mechanism between said supply and takeup reels, rigid arms on said transport in line with said reels, a rocker arm assembly having a roller in contact with one end of said transport, means adjustably mounting said roller on said rocker arm, and a rotatable cam between said rocker arm assembly and said reduction gear box for controlling the travel of said transport in uniform reciprocal transfer of said wire in layer fashion on said take-up reels.

5. In combination, a wire winding machine, according to claim 4, comprising a transport with spaced rigid bearings, parallel bars slidably supported in said bearings, a head block on said bars, transverse arms extending across said bars, guide means on said arms for conveying said wire between said supply and take-up reels, and spring pressure means on said bars abutting against one of said arms and the following rigid bearing.

6. In combination, a wire winding machine, according to claim 5, in which said bearings are vertically adjustable and said drives are variable, to regulate the feed of said wire depending on the diameter and the spacial distance and diameter between the ends of said take-up reel.

7. In combination, a wire Winding machine, according to claim 4, wherein said rocker arm assembly is adjustable and includes a projecting pin, said rotatable cam engaging said projecting pin on said rocker arm.

8. A wire winding machine comprising an elongated base, a spindle shaft extending lengthwise of said base and journaled thereon for rotation, means for releasably securing a wire spool to said spindle shaft, a supply shaft spaced from and extending parallel to said spindle shaft and journaled on said base for rotation, means for releasably securing a supply spool of wire to said supply shaft in alignment with said wire spool, a transport mechanism interposed between said spindle shaft and said supply shaft for guiding wire from said supply spool to said wire spool, a drive for said spindle shaft and said transport mechanism to control the feed and level winding of said wire onto said wire spool, and adjustable cam control means coupling said drive to said transport mechanism, said cam control means including a cam, means coupling said cam to said drive, a rocker arm including a cam follower in engagement with said cam, means movably mounting said rocker arm, an actuating member in engagement with said carrier means, and means adjustably mounting said actuating member on said rocker arm.

9. A wire winding machine comprising an elongated base, a spindle shaft extending lengthwise of said base and journaled thereon for rotation, means for releasably securing a wire spool to said spindle shaft, a supply shaft spaced from and extending parallel to said spindle shaft and journaled on said base for rotation, means for releasably securing a supply spool of wire to said supply shaft in alignment with said wire spool, a transport mechanism including carrier means interposed between said spindle shaft and said supply shaft for guiding wire from said supply spool to said wire spool, a drive for said spindle shaft and said carrier means to control the feed and level winding of said wire onto said wire spool, said drive including a variable speed motor, means coupling said variable speed motor to said spindle shaft, and adjustable cam control means coupling said drive to said transport mechanism, said cam control means including a cam, means coupling said cam to said variable speed motor, a rocker arm including a cam follower in engagement with said cam, means movably mounting said rocker arm, an actuating member in engagement with said carrier means, and means adjustably mounting said actuating member on said rocker arm such that the effective movement of said rocker arm may be varied to regulate the movement of said transport mechanism.

10. A wire winding machine comprising an elongated base, a spindle shaft extending lengthwise of said base and journaled thereon for rotation, means for releasably securing a wire spool to said spindle shaft, a supply shaft spaced from and extending parallel to said spindle shaft and journaled on said base for rotation, means for releasably securing a supply spool of wire to said supply shaft in alignment with said wire spool, a transport mechanism interposed between said spindle shaft and said supply shaft for guiding wire from said supply spool to said wire spool, said transport mechanism including carrier means mounted on said base for longitudinal reciprocation, a drive for said spindle shaft and said carrier means to control the feed and level winding of said wire onto said wire spool, and adjustable cam control means coupling said drive to said transport mechanism, said cam control means including a cam, means including a speed reduction unit coupling said cam to said drive, a rocker arm including a cam follower in engagement with said cam, means mounting said rocker arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said base, an actuating member in engagement with said carrier means, and

ll means adjustably mounting said actuating member on said rocker arm such that the. effective stroke of said'rocker arm may be varied to regulate the movement of said-transport mechanism.

11. A wire winding machine comprising base, a spindle shaft extending lengthwise of said base and journaled thereon for rotation, means for releasably securing a wire-spool to said spindle shaft,'a supply shaft spaced from and extending parallel to said spindle shaft and journaled on said base for rotation, means for releasably securing a supply spool of wire to said supply shaft in alignment with said wire spool, a transport mechanism interposed between said spindle shaft and said supply shaft for guiding wire from said supply spool to said wire spool, said transport mechanism including carrier means mounted on said base for longitudinal reciprocation and a Wire guide on said carrier means over Which said wire passes during traverse from said supply spool to said Wire spool, said carrier means including rods extending longitudinally of said base, and anti-friction supports engaging said rods and mounting said rods for said longitudinal reciprocation, and a drive for said spindle shaft and said carrier means to control the feed and level Winding of said Wire onto said Wire spool, said drive including a variable speed motor, means coupling said variable an elongated 12 speed motor to said spindle shaft, and adjustable cam control means coupling said variable speed motor to said transport mechanism, said cam control means including a cam, means including a speed reduction unit coupling said cam to said variable speed motor, a rocker arm including a cam follower in engagement With said cam, means mounting said rocker arm for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said base, an actuating member in engagement with said carrier means, and means adjustably mounting said actuating member on said rocker arm such that the effective stroke of said rocker arm may be varied to regulate the movement of said transport mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,684 Sawyer July 3, 1888 650,887- Wilkerson June 5, 1900 654,584 Anderson July 31, 1900 1,806,697 Meissner May 26, 1931 2,264,424 Winslow Dec. 2, 1941 2,607,541 Morgan et a1 Aug. 19, 1952 2,699,297 Weinreich et a1 Jan. 11, 1955 2,713,980 Roberts et a1. July 26, 1955 

